Rear caliper park brake

[boydsdodge]

Hello all, I am doing some work on my 1980 Fiat 2000 for inspection.
All looks good but the left rear caliper park brake arm is stuck, I can move it after releasing the cable tension and the use of small taps from a small hammer.
How this came to be found was that when park break is applied the right wheel holds tight but the left could be turned, pads are good rotor is good, cables move freely, arm does not.
Would I be wasting time if I lube with some penetrant and try to free up? Or is this a replace caliper job?
Thank you.

[Exit98]

I had exactly the same problem.

John Erskine (SpiderParts) told me it was a pretty simple fix but he knows everything.

In the end I bought a rebuilt caliper from him and just did an R&R which solved the problem.

[boydsdodge]

Thanks for that.
My parts guy here can get a new caliber tomorrow, just would hate to do the swap to find out that it was simple fix.
As you can guess by my username Fiats are offering a bit of a learning curve.

[Trickster]

Keyword, "stuck". As in bent, or seized? Try some penetrating fluid(s). She is 36 yrs old, many parts get sticky, especially undercarriage, brakes, etc. Not a just a Fiat issue, any old car. Can of lubricant should be on a nearby
shelf in the garage when owning any classic.
Good luck

[boydsdodge]

I got it, lots of penetrating fluid and rocking to and fro.
Readjusted the cables and it seems to work.
we will see in the morn.

[DieselSpider]

Rebuild kits are less than $7 and takes care of both rear calipers. The cams under the rubber boot should be coated with soap based grease and the cables given a graphite lube. If the brake cable is sticking then its about a $20 problem if you simply buy a new cable.

http://www.vickauto.com/newstore/index. ... ts_id=1750

http://www.vickauto.com/newstore/index. ... ts_id=1845

[boydsdodge]

Thank you.

[klweimer]

The rear calipers are significantly tricker to rebuild than the fronts, as the e-brake assembly is pretty busy. If you're not sure about doing the work, I go for the rebuilt unit. Search the forum and you'll find lots of pictures and descriptions on how to rebuild these and then decide. The one area of the rear caliper you can't rebuild is the spring loaded, threaded mechanism inside the piston, that actually advances the actuating rod for the e-brake (this is how the brake adjusts for pad wear). Mine were rusted into solid chunks from water in the brake lines (I suppose).
Kirk

[lglade]

+1

The rear calipers are indeed trickier to repair than the fronts. I rebuilt mine, but was sure sick of the job long before it was over. If I were looking at that same job again today, I'd give serious consideration to either rebuilt calipers or to a Big Brake kit from Mark.

If you decide to rebuild them, take some good pictures of the e-brake mechanism before you disassemble them. I reassembled mine incorrectly and the e-brakes didn't work. So I had to take them all apart and do it over again. They work fine today, but I'd love to have some better brakes under the car.

[micbrody]

My left rear caliper did not actuate when parking cable pulled. I adjusted length/tension nut on parking brake cable without any success (right rear worked fine).
I went to rebuild caliper. Turns out previous owner rebuilt caliper incorrectly. He/she put the 5 "washer springs" in the pneumatic part of caliper (just behind the piston). It should be on the outside of caliper, visible without disassembly